Positive displacement liquid dispensing mechanism

ABSTRACT

A unitary valve body has a cylindrical opening therethrough to readily permit the insertion and withdrawal of a unitary cylindrical valve stem. The valve stem has an annular circumferential channel to provide communication between a supply conduit and a metering chamber in the intake position of the valve stem. The valve stem has an elongated cavity therein, and a passageway inclined outwardly and downwardly from the axis of the valve stem to provide communication between the metering chamber and the cavity in the dispensing position of the valve stem. A readily detachable plug closes off the bottom of the cavity, while a plurality of dispensing passageways provide communication between the cavity and the container being filled when the valve stem is in the dispensing position. An adjustable linkage is provided on the lever arm driving the piston in the metering chamber.

United States Patent 1 1111 3,833,155 Farfaglia Sept. 3, 1974 POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT LIQUID DISPENSING MECHANISM. 5 7 ABSTRACT [75] Inventor: Farfagla' Fulton A unitary valve body has a cylindrical opening there- 73 Assignee; Philli petroleum Company, through to readily permit the insertion and withdrawal B fl in kl of a unitary cylindrical valve stem. The valve stem has an annular circumferential channel to rovide com- [22] Fled: Sept 1973 munication between a supply conduit a1Fd a metering 21 Appl, 395,111 chamber in the intake position of the valve stem. The

valve stem has an elongated cavity therein, and a passageway inclined outwardly and downwardly from the [52] US. Cl. 222/275, 141/147 axis of the valve Stem to provide communication [51] Ilit. CI. Golf 3/38 tween the metering chamber and the cavity in the [58] held of Search 222/275 141/147 pensing position of the valve stem. A readily detach- 141/102 able plug closes off the bottom of the cavity, while a plurality of dispensing passageways provide communi- [56] References C'ted cation between the cavity and the container being UNITE STAT S PATENTS filled when the valve stem is in the dispensing position. 1,438,483 12/1922 Garrett 141 147 n adjusta le linkage is provided on the lever arm 3,335,767 8/1967 Manas 141/147 driving the piston in the metering chamber.

Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg 6 Claims 7 Drawing Figures PAIENTHJ SEP 31974 SHEET 2 ll 6 n, m 2 9 5 7 1 3 ll| Ill .l 4 I 9 w I w n 2 .1 9 9 6 8 5 6 d v 5 PIP! III .I 8 W m m 9 II 8 I w M 8 I 4 w w w 6 7 a 5 .w

FIG. 2

PATENTEDSEP 31w 3.833,155 I SHEET 3!! B PATENIHJ 31974 3.833.155

SIEEI u If 6 FIG. 4

PATENTEDSEP 3 3.833.155

sim ear 6 POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT LIQUID DISPENSING MECHANISM The invention relates to a positive displacement liquid dispensing mechanism. In a specific aspect the invention relates to a filler valve for a carton filling and sealing machine.

It is desirable that the dispensing mechanism for systems for packaging a liquid under sanitary conditions be readily dismantled, cleaned and reassembled. It is also desirable, from the standpoint of manufacturing cost and ease of cleaning, that the dispensing mechanism be fabricated with a minimum of parts. Accuracy in the volume being dispensed is also frequency essential. Thus, it is desirable that some means be provided to permit minute adjustments in the metered volume.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved liquid dispensing mechanism. Another object of the invention is to provide a positive displacement liquid dispensing mechanism having a minimum number of parts. A further object of the invention is to provide a liquid dispensing mechanism which can be readily disassembled for cleaning. Yet another object of the invention is to provide meansfor making minute adjustments in the volume of liquid being dispensed.

Other aspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a study of the disclosure, the appended claims, and the drawing.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a carton forming, filling and sealing machine embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified side elevation view, partly in cross section, of one of the filler units of FIG. 1, at the conclusion of one filling cycle and the commencement of a new filling cycle;

FIG. 3 is a simplified side elevational view, partly in cross section, of the filler unit of FIG. 2, shown in the position where the measuring cylinder is filled with fluid;

FIG. 4 is a simplified side elevational view, partly in cross section, of the filler unit of FIG. 2, with the filler valve lowered into the carton in the filling station;

FIG. 5 is a simplified elevational view, partly in cross section, of the filler unit of FIG. 2 showing the measuring piston in the down position at the conclusion of the liquid discharge;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the adjustable lever arm for actuating the piston of the measuring and dispensing cylinder;

FIG. 7 is an alternate embodiment of the valve of the filler unit wherein the passage of the liquid from the manifold flows directly through the valve body into the measuring cylinder.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and to FIG. 1 in particular, the carton forming, filling and sealing machine comprises a forming section 11 and a filling and sealing section 12. The forming section 11 comprises a sidewall blank feeding and heating subsection 13, a bottom blank feeding and heating subsection 14, a forming subsection 15, and a transfer subsection 16. The filling and sealing section has two parallel endless conveyor systems 17, and each conveyor system comprises a filling subsection 18 occupying five conveyor stations, a defoaming station 19, a score breaking station 20, a top heating station 21, a folding and sealing station 22, a secondary sealing station 23, a branding station 24 and a transfer station 25.

The sidewall blanks 3.1 manually placed in the sidewall blank magazine 32 are fiat, single sheets of paperboard, rectangular in shape, scored to provide five longitudinal panels, and a gable-top structure, and coated on both the top andbottom surfaces of each sheet with a thermoplastic material, e.g., polyethylene. The sidewall blanks are successively withdrawn from magazine 32 and advanced through the sidewall blank heating station 33 to the sidewall blank receiving station .34. for turret 35. At the sidewall blank heating station 33, the side margins to be overlapped and the bottom margin of the sidewall blank are heated to a bonding temperature for the thermoplastic coating.

The turret 35 is journalled on a horizontalaxis and carries eight circumferentially spaced apart mandrels 36 extending radially from the axis of turret 35. The crosssection of each of mandrels 36 in a plane perpendicular to its longitudinal axis is generally rectangular. Suitable drive mechanism is provided for indexing or effecting intermittent rotation of the turret 35 to move each mandrel from the sidewall blank receivingstation 34 through a blank folding station 37; a bottom end closure forming, applying and sealing station 38; asecondary bottom sealing station 39, a stripping station-40, and three successive nonoperative -stations-4l, 42 and 43.

The tubular carton body having a bottom closure sealed thereto is removed from the mandrel 36 .at the stripping station 40 and is transferred to a conveyor pocket 45 of one of the two conveyor systems 17. The product to be packaged introduced into the opentopped tubular carton in the filling station 18. There are four filler units 18a, 18b, 18d and I8e associated with each conveyor system 17, so that each filler unit provides one-fourth of the volume of liquid required to fill the container. In the event the carton is ahalf-gallon carton, each filler unit would dispense 1 pint of liquid. If desired, any foam resulting from the filling operation can be removed at defoaming station 19. The scores for the gable-top structure can be initially folded in the score breaking station 20, resulting in the conventional six-sided top structure. The gable-top ridge panels of the carton are heated in station 21 to a temperature at least as high as the thermal bonding temperature of the thermosplastic coatings on the carton. The heated superstructure is then folded into contact under pressure at the folding and sealing stations 22 to effect the bonding of adjacent ridge panels. Secondary sealing station 23 applies pressure to the ridge panels during cooling of the thermoplastic bond. If desired, a date indicia,

plant identification or other information can be applied to the bonded ridge panels of the sealed carton at branding station 24. The formed, filled and sealed car ton is removed from its conveyor pocket 45 at the transfer station 25 and placed on a deliveryconveyor 46.

The filling section will be described in reference to one filler unit 18a since all filler units are identical. Support 51 is connected to the main frame of the filling and sealing section 12. A cam shaft (not shown) is rotated by the main drive of the machine to reciprocate drive rods 52 and 53. Drive rod 52 has connected-at its top end linkage bar 54 which is rotatable about pin '55. The other end of linkage bar 54 is connected in a pivotal relationship to lever arm 56 by pin 57. Lever arm 56 is rotatably mounted on pin 58, which is attached to support 51. The outer end of lever arm 56 is'connected to the shaft 59 of valve stem 60 in a pivotal relationship around pin 61. Cylindrical valve stem 60 is mounted in a cylindrical opening through valve body' 62 for vertical motion relative to valve body 62. The upward motion of drive rod 52 rotates lever arm 56 clockwise about pin 58 to move valve stem 60 downwardly in valve body 62, while the downward motion of drive rod 52 rotates lever arm 56 counterclockwise about pin 58 to raise the valve stem 60 with respect to the valve body 62. Valve stem 60 has an annular channel 65 around its periphery. Valve body 62 has an inlet passageway 66, which is in communication with supply conduit 67, and a second passageway 68, which is in registry with passageway 69 in meter housing 70. The axes of passageways 66 and 68 lie in a plane which is at least generally perpendicular to the axis of valve stem 60. Supply conduit 67 is connected to the supply tank 49 (FIG. 1). Passageway 69 communicates with the metering chamber 71 in housing 70. A piston 72, provided with an O ring 73 is mounted on shaft 74 for reciprocation in the vertical direction in sealing engagement with the interior wall 75 of housing 70 so that the only entry or exit from chamber 71 is by way of passageway 69. When valve stem 60 mates with passageways 66 and 68, i.e., in the intake position illustrated in FIG. 2, annular channel 65 provides fluid communication from supply conduit 67 to metering chamber 71.A plug 76 can be used to close off the outer end of passageway 69 when passageway is bored all the way through housing 70 for the purpose of ease in cleaning. Valve stem 60 has an interior chamber 77 and an inclined passageway 78 that connects the interior chamber 77 with passageway 68 only when the valve stem 60 is in the discharge position shown in FIG. 4. At its lower end valve stem 60 has aplurality of passages 79 which connect the interior chamber 77 to a plurality of discharge ports 80 open to the atmosphere for discharge of milk or other fluid only when the valve stem 60 is in the discharge position as shown in FIG..4. A plug 81 having a conical shaped top 82 mounted on base 83 fits into the lower end of valve stem 60, sealing the interior chamber 77 from leakage, but providing easy access to the interior of valve stem 60 for cleaning. The conical section 82 generally conforms to the frustoconical wall of the lower portion of chamber 77 and is spaced therefrom, to direct the liquid to the passageway 79. Base 83 has a ring shaped gasket 84 in groove 85 to provide a liquid tight relationship between the cylindrical base 83 and the interior wall of valve stem 60. Plug 81 is retained in valve stem 60 by retainer 86, which is preferably a quick disconnect device such as a bayonet joint, so that plug 81 can be readily removed for cleaning. Valve body 62 is preferably fabricated as a single unitary element. Similarly valve stem 60, apart from plug 81, the O-rings and shagt 59, is also fabricated as a single unitary element to simplify manufacturing and to provide greater simplicity in the cleaning of the parts. Valve stem 60 is maintained in valve body 62 only by the lever arm 56 and the friction of the O-rings. Thus, valve stem 60 can be readily removed for cleaning by simply disconnecting lever arm 56 from shaft 59 and manually pushing valve stem 60 out of body 62.

' Attached to the upper end of drive rod 53 is linkage bar 87 which is pivotally attached to drive rod 53 by pin 88. Linkage bar 87 is pivotally attached at its upper end to one end of lever arm 89 by pin 90. Lever arm 89is pivotable about fixed pin 91, which is attached to support 51. At its outer end lever arm 89 is pivotably attached to piston rod 74 by pin 92. Plate 93 is pivotable about bolt 94, which is attached to lever arm 89. Plate 93 has a notch 95 which fits over pin 92 to provide a quick disconnect for the piston rod 74. The upward motion of drive rod 53 causes the clockwise rotation of lever arm 89 about pin 91 forcing shaft 74 and piston 72 downwardly, while the downward motion of drive rod 53 causes a counterclockwise rotation of lever arm 89 about pin 91 forcing shaft 74 and piston 72 upwardly.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the stroke of piston 74 in metering housing can be easily adjusted by varying the distance between pins and 91 by moving the position of the sliding bar element 89a of lever arm 89 in the channel element 89b of lever arm 89. This adjustment is made by rotating lever arm 96 which is pivoably attached at approximately its center to bar element 89a by bolt 97. Lever arm 96 has at its upper end a groove 98 into which pin 99, extending from channel element 89b, fits. Bolts 100 fit through slots 101 in bar 89a into channel element 89b to lock the components in position. The stroke of the piston rod 74 and piston 72 in metering housing 70 can thus be varied by changing the effective length of the lever arm 89 connected to the drive rod 53. Minute adjustments of milk volume or other liquids discharged from each filler unit may thus be made.

At the start of a new filling cycle, the components are in the position shown in FIG. 2, wherein a carton S0 is presented underneath the fillerunit 18a for filling, piston 72 is in the down position, and valve stem 60 is in the up or closed position, preventing the flow from the metering chamber 71 into the carton 50, but permitting the flow of milk from conduit 67 through passageways 66, 65, 68 and 69 into chamber 71. A downward movement of drive rod 53 causes an upward movement of the outer end of lever arm 89, raising piston rod 74 and piston 72 in metering housing 70 until chamber 71 reaches the desired volume. Additional rotation of the cam shaft, not shown, causes upward movement. of drive rod 52 and a downward movement of the outer end of lever arm 56 moving valve stem 60 downwardly so that its lower end and discharge ports 80 are projected inside the carton 50 to be filled. This movement of valve stem 60 in a downward position also connects passageway 78 to passageway 68 and the interior chamber 71 of metering housing 70. In this position valve stem 78 also seals off supply conduit 67 and passageway 66 from metering chamber 71 by the downward movement of valve stem 60 moving passageway 65 out of registry with passageways 66 and 68. See FIG. 4. Now referring to FIG. 5, further rotation of the cam shaft, not shown, causes an upward movement of drive rod 53 and a downward movement of the outward end of lever arm 89 to push piston rod 74 and piston 72 to the bottom of measuring cylinder in housing 70, displacing the milk within metering chamber 71, causing it to flow to passageways 69, 68 and 78 into the interior 77 of valve stem 60 and then through passageway 79 and out discharge ports 80 into the milk carton 50. Now referring again to FIG. 2, further rotation of the cam shaft causes a downward movement of drive rod 52 and an upward movement of the outer end of lever arm 56 to raise valve stem 60 back to its closed position and again" connecting supply conduit 67 and passageway 66 to passageways 68 and 69 through annular channel 65.

in another embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the interior 77 of valve stem 60' is connected to the passageway 66' and passageway 68' by openings 102 and 103 in valve stem 60'. Openings 102 and 103 thus allow milk to flow from supply conduit 67 into the interior 77' of valve stem 60' during the upward movement of piston 72 in metering housing 70. The milk remaining in the interior 77 of valve stem 60 becomes part of the measured volume of milk to be discharged into the carton 50. In this embodiment horizontal passageway 104 connects passageway 68' to the interior 77 of valve stem 60 when the valve stem 60' is in the down position.

Reasonable variations and modifications are possible within the scope of the foregoing disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims to the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A positive displacement liquid dispensing mechanism comprising a valve body having a cylindrical passageway extending vertically therethrough, a cylindrical valve stem positioned in said cylindrical passageway for vertical reciprocating movement with respect to said valve body, said valve body having first and second fluid passageways therein in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said valve stem and communicating with said cylindrical passageway, said valve stem having an annular channel in the cylindrical surface thereof to provide fluid communication between said first and second fluid passageways in the up position of said valve stem and to interrupt the fluid communication between said first and second fluid passageways in the down position of said valve stem, fluid supply conduit means in communication with said first fluid passageway for supplying thereto the fluid to be dispensed, means defining a metering chamber including a piston to vary the volume of said metering chamber, said metering chamber being in fluid communication with said second fluid passageway, said valve stem having an elongated chamber extending along the axis of said valve stem and open at the bottom of said valve stem, an inclined fluid passageway extending outwardly and downwardly from the axis of said valve stem to provide fluid communication from said second fluid passageway into said elongated chamber only when said valve stem is in said down position, a removable plug positioned in said elongated chamber to close the lower end of said elongated chamber, a plurality of dispensing passageways in said valve stem to provide fluid communication from said elongated chamber, to the atmosphere only when said valve stem is in said down position, and means for moving said valve stem between said up position and said down position and for actuating said piston.

2. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein said valve stem is fabricated as a single unitary element and has a plurality of annular grooves in the cylindrical surface thereof provided with O-rings to maintain liquid seals along the length of said cylindrical surface, and wherein said valve body is fabricated as a single unitary element.

3. A mechanism in accordance with claim 2 wherein said valve stem is maintained in said cylindrical passageway only by said means for moving said O-rings so that said valve stem can be manually removed from said valve body by merely disconnecting said valve stem from said means for moving.

4. A mechanism in accordance with claim 3 wherein said plug is secured to said valve stem by a bayonet joint.

5. A mechanism in accordance with claim 4 wherein the lower portion of said elongated chamber diverges downwardly and outwardly to form a frustoconical wall section, and wherein said plug has a conical upper portion spaced downwardly from the frustoconical wall section of said elongated chamber to direct the fluid into said dispensing passageways.

6. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for actuating said piston comprises a shaft connected to said piston and adapted to move said piston in said metering chamber, a lever arm being mounted about a pivot at a point intermedicate the ends of said lever arm, means for pivotably attaching one end of said lever arm to said shaft, and means for applying a drive force to the other end of said lever arm, one end portion of said lever arm comprising a channel member and a bar positioned in said channel member, means for releasably securing said bar to said channel member, a plate pivotally secured to one of said bar and said channel member and a pin secured to the other of said bar and said channel member, said plate having a slot therein into which said pin extends, so that the rotation of said plate about its pivot adjusts the effective length of said lever arm. 

1. A positive displacement liquid dispensing mechanism comprising a valve body having a cylindrical passageway extending vertically therethrough, a cylindrical valve stem positioned in said cylindrical passageway for vertical reciprocating movement with respect to said valve body, said valve body having first and second fluid passageways therein in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said valve stem and communicating with said cylindrical passageway, said valve stem having an annular channel in the cylindrical surface thereof to provide fluid communication between said first and second fluid passageways in the up position of said valve stem and to interrupt the fluid communication between said first and second fluid passageways in the down position of said valve stem, fluid supply conduit means in communication with said first fluid passageway for supplying thereto the fluid to be dispensed, means defining a metering chamber including a piston to vary the volume of said metering chamber, said metering chamber being in fluid communication with said second fluid passageway, said valve stem having an elongated chamber extending along the axis of said valve stem and open at the bottom of said valve stem, an inclined fluid passageway extending outwardly and downwardly from the axis of said valve stem to provide fluid communication from said second fluid passageway into said elongated chamber only when said valve stem is in said down position, a removable plug positioned in said elongated chamber to close the lower end of said elongated chamber, a plurality of dispensing passageways in said valve stem to provide fluid communication from said elongated chamber to the atmosphere only when said valve stem is in said down position, and means for moving said valve stem between said up position and said down position and for actuating said piston.
 2. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein said valve stem is fabricated as a single unitary element and has a plurality of annular grooves in the cylindrical surface thereof provided with O-rings to maintain liquid seals along the length of said cylindrical surface, and wherein said valve body is fabricated as a single unitary element.
 3. A mechanism in accordance with claim 2 wherein said valve stem is maintained in said cylindrical passageway only by said means for moving said O-rings so that said valve stem can be manually removed from said valve body by merely disconnecting said valve stem from said means for moving.
 4. A mechanism in accordance with claim 3 wherein said plug is secured to said valve stem by a bayonet joint.
 5. A mechanism in accordance with claim 4 wherein the lower portion of said elongated chamber diverges downwardly and outwardly to form a frustoconical wall section, and wherein said plug has a conical upper portion spaced downwardly from the frustoconical wall section of said elongated chamber to direct the fluid into said dispensing passageways.
 6. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for actuating said piston comprises a shaft connected to said piston and adapted to move said piston in said metering chamber, a lever arm being mounted about a pivot at a point intermedicate the ends of said lever arm, means for pivotably attaching one end of said lever arm to said shaft, and means for applying a drive force to the other end of said lever arm, one end portion of said lever arm comprising a channel member and a bar positioned in said channel member, means for releasably securing said bar to said channel member, a plate pivotally secured to one of said bar and said channel member and a pin secured to the other of said bar and said channel member, said plate having a slot therein into which said pin extends, so that the rotation of said plate about its pivot adjusts the effective length of said lever arm. 